Kathrine Frich
Putin also dismissed Western efforts to weaken Moscow.
International summits usually stick to a familiar script of handshakes and careful diplomatic language.
Every so often, though, a press conference goes off track.
And this week, a gathering meant to build overseas friendships turned into a stark military warning.
Ready for war
According to the Daily Express, Russian President Vladimir Putin used a Moscow press briefing after a two-day Russia-Africa summit to issue a direct threat to Western nations. While dozens of African leaders visited the capital, the Russian leader turned his focus toward Europe.
He told reporters: “We are ready for war with Europe, but we don’t want it. As for them, if anyone desires such a thing, let them prepare.”
Putin also dismissed Western efforts to weaken Moscow, the Daily Express reported. He said: “But they have not achieved their goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia. It’s unlikely that this will be possible by 2030.”
Then came a darker warning. He added: “And if things go too far, there will be no winners at all. Let no one forget that.”
Counting the days
Behind the scenes, Western officials told the Daily Express that Putin actually wants to avoid a direct clash with NATO, even as fears grow of an attack by 2030. Still, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned last week that Britain has roughly 1,000 days to prepare.
Writing in The Telegraph without naming Russia directly, Streeting stated: “Our adversaries’ willingness to harm us is not new. What has changed is their capacity. By 2030 their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack. That gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission: to be ready with our allies to fight and win.”
Meanwhile, European capitals remain on high alert over suspected Russian sabotage aimed at undermining support for Ukraine.
Last week, Germany’s military raised its sabotage threat assessment to the second-highest level after local reports said a drone carrying explosives crashed near a north-western airbase in mid-September, following a denied plot at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August.
According to the Daily Express, NATO’s eastern members have also shot down suspected Russian drones and accused Moscow of flying warplanes into Polish, Lithuanian, and Estonian airspace.
On Thursday, however, Putin claimed he backs restoring European ties, and the Daily Mail reported he wants the Baltic Sea to avoid the disruption seen in the Strait of Hormuz, days after a criticised 90-minute Tuesday call with the leaders of Norway and Finland.
